Arkansas has been in contact with former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer about the Razorbacks head coaching job, a source close to the coach confirmed to Sporting News.

Former Tennessee assistant coach Doug Matthews, during an interview with the 3HL show on WGFX-FM 104.5 in Nashville, Tenn. first revealed that Arkansas has talked to Fulmer. Matthews was a UT assistant for 10 years.

“I know Phillip has had conversations with them,” Matthews said on the air. “And when I say them, all that is going to take place behind the scenes.”

Athletic director Jeff Long announced the firing of Bobby Petrino when it was discovered he was having an affair with his subordinate, Jessica Dorrell. Dorrell resigned Tuesday.

Arkansas assistant coach Taver Johnson is running the program during the coaching search. The Razorbacks play their spring game on Saturday. Johnson or running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Horton are the most likely candidates from the current staff to be retained as head coach, CBSSports.com reports.

If a hire is made from outside, Long has said he would expect to attract someone with impressive credentials. That would certainly fit Fulmer, who had a 17-year career record of 152-52 before he was let go at UT after the 2008 season.

“I think they’ll either go with a guy they’ve got on the staff or they’ll bring in someone to be—caretaker’s the wrong word—but bring someone in who has been through it all before,” Matthews said during the radio interview.

"If there is a place for Phillip, that will be the place," he added.

A source close to Fulmer told Sporting News that the coach would favor a permanent position, although he could consider taking over on an interim basis.

“I think it’s possible, but not likely,” the source said.

Another name to surface as a potential candidate is former NFL and college coach Steve Mariucci. Mariucci told CBSSports.com that he hasn’t been in contact with Arkansas.

“I just had a few phone calls from my son and a few friends asking what’s going on and to be honest I hadn’t heard about it,” Mariucci told CBSSports.com. “It comes as a complete surprise to me.”

Mariucci initially contacted Arkansas officials regarding the football opening, according to 5News in Arkansas.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was also contacted by Arkansas officials about the head coach opening, but turned the Razorbacks down, according to 5News in Arkansas.